Skip to main content
Log in

Working While the World Sleeps: A Consideration of Sleep and Shift Work Design

  • Published:
Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The evolution of society and economic pressure has provided the impetus for operating on a 24-hr basis in many industries. This has occurred with relatively little attention toward sleep deprivation and related problems facing shift workers and the organizations employing them. This paper first documents the move toward shift work and some sleep problems associated with it. We then describe sleep disorders that impact job performance. Next, we describe alternative schedules and give suggestions for shift work implementation. Finally, we offer some normative advice regarding the treatment of shift employees.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Akerstedt, T. (1991). Psychological and psychophysiological effects of shift work. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment Health, 16, 67-73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akerstedt, T., Kecklund, G., & Knutsson, A. (1991). Spectral analysis of sleep electroencephalography in rotating three-shift work. Scandinavian Journal of Environmental Health, 17, 330-336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, R. M. (1986). Wide Awake at 3:00 a.m. Stanford: Stanford Alumni Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, R. M. (1995). The 24-Hour Business. New York: American Management Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colquhoun, W. P., & Rutenfranz, J. (1980). Studies of Shiftwork. London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, D., Encel, N., & Lushington, K. (1994). Shift work and sleep deprivation. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society, 18, 11-21.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Zwart, B., Bras, V., van Dormolen, M., Frings-Dresen, M., & Meijman, T. (1993). After-effects of night work on physical performance capacity and sleep quality in relation to age. International Arch of Occupational Environmental Health, 65, 259-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eastman, C., & Martin, S. (1999). How to use light and dark to produce circadian adaptation to night shift work. The Finnish Medical Society Duodecim, 31, 87-98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, F. M. (1997). Do weekly and fast-rotating shiftwork schedules differentially affect duration and quality of sleep? International Arch of Occupational Environmental Health, 69, 354-360.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, M. D. (1985). London Life in the Eighteenth Century. Chicago: Academy Chicago Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harma, M., Hakola, T., Akerstedt, T., & Laitinen, J. (1994). Age and adjustment to night work. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 51, 568-573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harma, M., Knauth, P., Ilmarinen, J., & Ollila, H. (1990). The relation of age to the adjustment of the circadian rhythms of oral temperature and sleepiness to shift work. Chronobiology International, 7, 227-233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolmodin-Hedman, B. (1975). Problems related to shift work. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 1, 254-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryger, M. H. (1994). Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavie, P., Tzischinsky, O., Epstein, R., & Zomer, J. (1992). Sleep-wake cycle in shift workers on a clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation system. Israel Institute of Technology, 28, 636-644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardon, S. (1999). Shiftwork Practices 1999. Cambridge, MA: Circadian Information.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, J. H. (2000). Human Resource Management, 9th ed. Cincinnati, OH: Southwestern College Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, K., & Harada, M. (1994). The effect of night-time naps on recovery from fatigue following night work. Ergonomics, 37, 899-907.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research (1993). Wake Up America: A National Sleep Alert. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Report to U.S. Congress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, J. D. (1976). The economics of shiftwork and absenteeism. In ShiftWork and Health, 213-217. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Symposium sponsored by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Cincinnati, OH, June 12-13, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilcher, J., Lambert, B., & Huffcutt, A. (1999). Differential effects of permanent and rotating shifts on self-report sleep length: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research, 23, 155-163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radosevic-Vidacek, B., & Vidacek, S. (1994). Compensation of reduced sleep in a rapidly rotating shift system. Arh hig rada toksikol, 45, 211-218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, A. (1988). Workers' sleep quality as determined by shift system and demographic factors. Occupational and Environmental Health, 60, 425-429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tepas, D. I., & Monk, T. H. (1987). Handbook of Human Factors. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tami L. Knotts.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oexman, R.D., Knotts, T.L. & Koch, J. Working While the World Sleeps: A Consideration of Sleep and Shift Work Design. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal 14, 145–157 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021189305076

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021189305076

Navigation